Dukey Treats

Dukey Treats
Studio album by George Duke
Released	August 26, 2008 (2008-08-26)
Studio	Le Gonks West (Los Angeles, CA)
Genre	Jazz-funk jazz
Label	Big Piano Music Heads Up International
Producer	Dave Love (exec.) George Duke (also exec.)
George Duke chronology
In a Mellow Tone (2006) Dukey Treats (2008) Deja Vu (2010)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
All About Jazz	[1]
AllMusic	[2]
JazzTimes	(favourable) [3]
Chicago Sun-Times	[4]

Dukey Treats is the 29th studio album by American keyboardist and record producer George Duke. This album was released on August 26, 2008, through BPM Records under exclusive license to Heads Up International. ^[5] Dukey Treats peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard Top Jazz Albums and No. 29 on the Top Independent Albums charts. ^[6]

Critical reception

Brian Soergel of JazzTimes favourably found "If you thought George Duke’s trad-jazz In a Mellow Tone was the best thing he’s ever done, Dukey Treats probably isn’t your thing. But if you smile every time Duke’s “Sweet Baby” comes on the radio and shake your skunk rump when Sir Duke launches into “Dukey Stick” at a show, this is your thang." ^[3]

Thom Jurek of Allmusic claimed, "On Dukey Treats, George Duke returns to the big FONK of the late '70s and early '80s...Dukey Treats is a mixed bag, but it works well. It's the brightest and most enjoyable (as in "fun") record Duke has done in at least a decade." ^[2]

The Evening Standard praised the album saying "AURAL nutrition for the mind, body and soul is how synth virtuoso and allround groovemaster George Duke describes his latest album and he's not wrong. A crowd-pleaser with a warm personality, he also has a serious side, and the dozen new songs here show the breadth of his artistry and awareness." ^[7]

Jeff Johnson of the Chicago Sun-Times declared "Keyboardist George Duke describes his "Dukey Treats" as "aural nutrients for the mind, body and soul." He clearly has set out to make his new funk album as much fun as possible for musicians and listeners alike, and he succeeds...A distinctive vocalist in his own right, Duke gets plenty of help courtesy of guests Jonathan Butler, Howard Hewett and Teena Marie. But the real pleasure of this jazz-funk workout is in the groove, and Sir Duke lays it down along with bassist Christian McBride, percussionist Sheila E and a red-hot horn section." ^[4]

Track listing

All tracks are written by George Duke.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Everyday Hero"	5:04
2.	"I Tried to Tell You"	4:44
3.	"A Fonk Tail"	4:05
4.	"Dukey Treats"	6:53
5.	"Listen Baby"	5:35
6.	"Mercy"	5:38
7.	"Somebody Laid It on Us"	4:50
8.	"Creepin'"	5:01
9.	"Right on Time"	5:28
10.	"Sudan"	5:10
11.	"Are You Ready"	4:32
12.	"Images of Us"	7:24

Personnel

• George Duke – vocals (1, 2, 4–10), Rhodes piano (1, 2, 5, 6, 9–12), clavinet (1, 2, 4, 6), synthesizers (1–4, 6, 7, 9–12), narration (3), vibraphone (5), acoustic piano (7, 9, 11), keyboards (8), lead vocals (11)
• Jef Lee Johnson – guitars (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12), acoustic guitar (5)
• John "Jubu" Smith – guitars (5, 7, 11)
• Ray Fuller – guitars (5, 9)
• Wah Wah Watson – guitars (6)
• Michael Manson – bass (1, 2, 10, 12)
• Byron Miller – bass (4, 6), rap (6, 8), vocals (8)
• Larry Kimpel – bass (5, 9, 11)
• Christian McBride – acoustic bass (8)
• Wayman Tisdale – bass fills (9)
• Ronald Bruner Jr. – drums (1, 2, 10, 12)
• Leon "Ndugu" Chancler – drums (4, 6), rap (6, 8), vocals (8)
• Vinnie Colaiuta – drums (5, 7)
• "Little" John Roberts – drums (8), vocals (8)
• Teddy Campbell – drums (9, 11)
• Sheila E. – percussion (1, 4, 6, 11), rap (6)
• Lenny Castro – percussion (5, 7)
• Everette Harp – alto saxophone (1, 2, 4, 6, 11, 12)
• Dan Higgins – tenor saxophone (1, 2, 11)
• Larry Williams – tenor saxophone (4, 6, 12)
• Kamasi Washington – tenor sax solo (6)
• Reggie Young – trombone (1, 2, 11)
• Isley Remington – trombone (4, 6, 12)
• Michael "Patches" Stewart – trumpet (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12)
• Rachelle Ferrell – vocals (1, 9)
• Josie James – backing vocals (1), vocals (2, 4, 6, 8), rap (6, 8)
• Lori Perry – vocals (1, 8), rap (8)
• Fred White – backing vocals (1), vocals (11)
• DeeDee Foster – vocals (2)
• Jim Gilstrap – vocals (2, 9)
• Napoleon Murphy Brock – vocals (4, 6), rap (6)
• Darrell Cox – rap (4)
• Lynn Davis – vocals (4, 6), rap (6)
• Corrine Duke – voice (7)
• Kenya Hathaway – vocals (8), rap (8)
• Howard Hewett – vocals (8), rap (8)
• Jonathan Butler – vocals (10)
• Teena Marie – vocals (10)
• Fiona Frawley – foreign correspondent (10)
• Nigel Martinez – foreign correspondent (10)
• Terry Dexter – vocals (11)
• Lynne Fiddmont – vocals (11)

Production

• George Duke – executive producer, producer
• Dave Love – executive producer
• Erik Zobler – recording, mixing, mastering
• Thai Long Ly – assistant engineer
• Corine Duke – production coordinator
• Natalie Singer – product manager
• Randall Moses – art direction, design
• Bobby Holland – photography
• Chaz Bowie – photo session stills
• Lalette Littlejohn – hair stylist, make-up

Chart history

Chart (2008)	Peak position
US Billboard 200 [8]	192
US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard) [9]	3
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [10]	29

References

1. Wilkins, Woodrow (September 14, 2008). "George Duke: Dukey Treats". All About Jazz . Retrieved August 31, 2018.
2. Jurek, Thom. "Dukey Treats – George Duke". AllMusic . Retrieved August 31, 2018.
3. Soergel, Brian (October 1, 2008). "George Duke: Dukey Treats". jazztimes.com. Jazz Times.
4. Johnson, Jeff (September 14, 2008). "Spin Control". Chicago Sun-Times – via newsbank.com.
5. George Duke: Dukey Treats. BPM Records. 2008.
6. "George Duke". billboard.com. Billboard.
7. "Evening Standard: JAZZ". Evening Standard. September 26, 2008 – via newsbank.com.
8. "George Duke Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
9. "George Duke Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
10. "George Duke Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2018.

External links

• Dukey Treats at Discogs (list of releases)
• Dukey Treats by George Duke on iTunes